Plymouth is about 110 miles (176 km) from Bristol Airport, and there is no direct train or coach from the airport terminal itself. The quickest and cheapest way in most cases is the A1 Flyer bus to Bristol Temple Meads (from £9.50, about 26 to 30 minutes) followed by a GWR train to Plymouth (from around £12, about 2 hours 20 minutes), for a combined single fare from roughly £21.50. A direct door-to-door taxi is faster overall but starts at around £247 one way from local operators.
The three main ways to travel
1. A1 Flyer bus + train (cheapest, no car needed)
The A1 Flyer runs 24 hours a day between Bristol Airport and Bristol city centre, calling at Bristol Temple Meads station on the way. An adult single is £9.50 (£16 return), and First Bus's own timetables show a journey time of roughly 26 to 30 minutes from the airport to Temple Meads.
From Temple Meads, GWR runs regular direct and one-change services to Plymouth. Trainline lists single fares from around £12 to £17 depending on how far ahead you book and whether you travel off-peak, with an average journey time of about 2 hours 20 minutes.
Total: from about £21.50, roughly 2h 50m to 3h door-to-door once you allow for the walk between the bus stop and the platform.
2. Coach
There is no direct coach from Bristol Airport to Plymouth. You would still need the A1 Flyer (or a taxi) into Bristol Bus Station, then a National Express coach to Plymouth, which is listed from £16.10 one way with a journey time of a little over 3 hours. Given the train is faster and similarly priced once you add the bus leg, the coach only tends to make sense if you have already booked a cheap advance coach fare or the train is disrupted.
3. Direct taxi or private transfer
A direct taxi avoids any changes and takes roughly 2 hours 50 minutes for the 110-mile run down the M5. Local operators such as Bristol Airport Taxi quote fixed fares from about £247 for a standard saloon one way; this is a single operator's listed price rather than a regulated tariff, so treat it as a starting point and get a live quote for your exact pick-up time, vehicle size and luggage. For 3 or more passengers travelling together, splitting a direct taxi can work out close to the bus-and-train fare per person while saving well over an hour.
Bristol Airport to Plymouth: options compared
| Option | Typical cost (single) | Journey time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Flyer + train | From about £21.50 | 2h 50m to 3h | Solo travellers, best value |
| A1 Flyer + coach | From about £25.60 | 3h 30m+ | Backup if trains are disrupted |
| Direct taxi/transfer | From about £247 | 2h 50m | Groups, heavy luggage, late arrivals |
Which should you choose?
If you are travelling alone or as a pair with cabin bags, the bus-and-train combination is the clear value pick and gets you into central Plymouth. If you land late at night, are travelling with young children, or have a lot of luggage, a pre-booked taxi removes the need to manage a bus and train connection with bags in tow. Groups of 3 to 5 splitting a taxi can end up paying a similar amount per head to the train while cutting well over an hour off the door-to-door time.
Is there a faster route?
Flying is not realistic here since Plymouth's own airport closed to scheduled passenger flights some years ago, so surface transport is the only practical option. The train via Temple Meads is the fastest public transport route; driving yourself, if you have a car available, takes a similar 2h 50m as the direct taxi.
What about luggage and connections?
The A1 Flyer has luggage racks and is used regularly by airport passengers, so a couple of suitcases is not a problem. At Temple Meads, allow at least 15 minutes to walk from the bus stop to the platform and check the departure board, since not all Plymouth-bound trains are direct and some involve a change at Exeter St Davids.
Should I book train tickets in advance?
Yes. GWR advance singles booked a few weeks ahead are typically cheaper than the £12 to £17 range quoted above; turning up on the day and buying an anytime single will usually cost more. If your flight time is fixed, it is worth booking the train leg as soon as you know your travel date.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a direct train from Bristol Airport to Plymouth?
No. Bristol Airport has no railway station. You take the A1 Flyer bus (or a taxi) to Bristol Temple Meads first, then a GWR train onward to Plymouth.
How long does Bristol Airport to Plymouth take by public transport?
Around 2 hours 50 minutes to 3 hours door-to-door: about 30 minutes on the A1 Flyer to Temple Meads, plus around 2 hours 20 minutes on the train, plus walking and connection time.
How much does a taxi from Bristol Airport to Plymouth cost?
Local operators quote fixed fares from roughly £247 one way for a standard saloon car, based on the 110-mile, roughly 2h 50m drive. Always confirm the current price and vehicle size when booking, since this is an operator's listed rate rather than a regulated fare.
Is the coach cheaper than the train?
Not by much once you add the cost of getting from the airport into Bristol Bus Station, and the coach takes noticeably longer. The bus-and-train combination is usually the better value option unless you already have a discounted advance coach fare.
Can I get from Bristol Airport to Plymouth without going into Bristol city centre?
Not on public transport. Temple Meads and Bristol Bus Station are both the standard interchange points; a direct taxi is the only way to bypass the city centre entirely.
Does the A1 Flyer run early enough for morning flights or late enough for night arrivals?
Yes, it is a 24-hour service, though frequency drops to roughly every 15 to 30 minutes overnight rather than the every-8-minute peak service, so check the timetable if you are travelling in the small hours.
Checked 2026.